sunny2day

Just thought I'd send out a bit of Irish cheer to one and all on this special day!
May your Guinness be cold, your bacon boiled and your white pudding hot!
x

I am so sorry you are going through this. I had an infection in my abdomen and had to have my tummy cut open and left open until it was done healing much like what you are describing. I could not stand the pain of having them clean out the open abdomen every eight hours that luckily my surgeon suggested a wound vac. It saved so much pain and promoted a significantly faster healing process. Ask your surgeon if there are any wound care facilities in your area and if they have the wound vac. Good luck, I know this is a very hard but know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep your chin up.

I too have been very open about it from the day I decided to go to a seminar to learn about weight loss surgery. What surprised me I think was the ones closest to me who have seen me struggle my whole adult life with obesity did not understand. They would try and convince me of other means to loose the weight. Or they were skeptical and assumed since I could not loose it the TRADITIONAL way, (exercise and eating habits), then I must be looking for a quick fix. What they don't realize is how exhausting it is to constanty struggle with health issues daily because of your obesity, or how depressing it is emotionally to be considered obese, or how hard you really try to work at it but without the tool, its only a matter of time before you fall of the wagon. What I have learned is that when someone decides to give me a negative opinion or advise, I simply tell them I am choosing to look at the positive side of the process and sure there may be complications or rocks in the road but when your obese you fight these obstacles daily so what have you truly got to loose? Maybe I wont loose any weight or maybe I will loose it all but without trying I'll never know. As far as the risk with weight loss surgery, I took a risk every day that I am obese just getting out of bed and hoping I don't have a heart attack or any severe life threatening issues as a result of my prolonged obesity. Never be ashamed of your decision, this is a decision that only you can make for yourself. Good Luck with your journey.

I am taking berry flavored soft chewables by Celebrity. If I had to describe the texture, they remind me of a starburst. They also don't taste horrible. Sometimes I make believe it's candy, lol.

I too have been very open about it from the day I decided to go to a seminar to learn about weight loss surgery. What surprised me I think was the ones closest to me who have seen me struggle my whole adult life with obesity did not understand. They would try and convince me of other means to loose the weight. Or they were skeptical and assumed since I could not loose it the TRADITIONAL way, (exercise and eating habits), then I must be looking for a quick fix. What they don't realize is how exhausting it is to constanty struggle with health issues daily because of your obesity, or how depressing it is emotionally to be considered obese, or how hard you really try to work at it but without the tool, its only a matter of time before you fall of the wagon. What I have learned is that when someone decides to give me a negative opinion or advise, I simply tell them I am choosing to look at the positive side of the process and sure there may be complications or rocks in the road but when your obese you fight these obstacles daily so what have you truly got to loose? Maybe I wont loose any weight or maybe I will loose it all but without trying I'll never know. As far as the risk with weight loss surgery, I took a risk every day that I am obese just getting out of bed and hoping I don't have a heart attack or any severe life threatening issues as a result of my prolonged obesity. Never be ashamed of your decision, this is a decision that only you can make for yourself. Good Luck with your journey.

I am so excited I just got the call from blue cross blue Sheild Federal that my request was approved and my letter will be mailed out. My doctor submitted the docs on 12/30/13 and I was approved 01/02/2014. I am scheduled to be sleeved on 01/14/2014. This has got to be my year.

I'm not a year out, I am about 5 months out and I can eat quite a bit actually. Even now.

Ok, I spoke to my NUT and she said to go ahead and start puréed food today. She said I am right on track and doing everything correctly. Said to wait two more weeks before I can exercise more extensively than walking. I just purred 4.0 ounces of chicken breast and oh my goodness what a difference. After four spoon full I am full. Wow, I feel the restriction now, this is amazing:)

Same here sleeved 1/14 and was able to start chicken this week I have had a text book recovery some soreness nothing unmanageable and eating small amounts is no joke so far I've hit the dreaded 2-3 week stall hoping to be over that soon!
These are amazing stories! I saw my surgeon for follow up today he told me if I don't lose to my goal weight in 6 months I've failed the sleeve? That this tool works best in 6 months and the rest is maintaining! He said if I don't work out and burn 1000 calories a day I won't lose? Wow do you work out this much?? I love your stories I was day if surgery 224 now 210 stalled for a week now and am freaking out!

Mamato2, my doctor gave me a whole bunch of print outs with his post op diet, here is mine as follows:
Stage 1 diet(Weeks 1 &2 Clear liquid diet) such as:
sugar free Jello
sugar free popsicles
crystal light
sugar free kool aide
propel and other calorie free flavored Water
Water
broth
Protein drings clear only
Stage 2 (Weeks 3-4 is full liquid and weeks 5-6 is pureed foods)
such as:
3-4 weeks
fat free milk
low fat Soups (strained or blended in a blender)
light (sugar free) yourgurt
5-6 weeks
baby food from the jar (meats and veggies only
cottage cheese
pureed Beans
pureed tofu
any other soft lean meats (no beef) or well cooked non startchy veggie
Stage 3 (Weeks 6-12) soft diet
tender meats (no beef)
flaky fish (avoid shell fish)
low fat cheese
egg whites(eggbeaters)
Beans
tofu
soft fruits on occasion
well cooked or canned veggies
Stage 4 Regular Diet 12 weeks on
Start introducing regular food one at a time to see what you can tolerate
I hope this helps and I hope your physician gives you some sort of guidance. Ask them if they can give you print outs with suggestions. I forget everything so the prints helped me. Keep me updated on your surgery. May we both have a smooth and easy recovery.

57 pounds down.

Ok, I spoke to my NUT and she said to go ahead and start puréed food today. She said I am right on track and doing everything correctly. Said to wait two more weeks before I can exercise more extensively than walking. I just purred 4.0 ounces of chicken breast and oh my goodness what a difference. After four spoon full I am full. Wow, I feel the restriction now, this is amazing:)

As for your growly, hungry tummy, when are you cleared for puréed or soft foods? The liquids go right through your sleeve pretty quickly, so don't help you stay full. Once I transitioned to more solid food I would get very full for 1-2 hours after eating and even had a hard time getting all my liquids in.

At seven weeks out I've only lost 14 pounds post op, and that's fine. I only weigh once/week and don't worry too much about it. I'm eating healthy and If it takes a year to get to goal that's fine, too. This is for the rest of my life, so I'm in no hurry to "keep up" with everyone else. And beside the scale, I have the mirror and my baggy clothes and my loose rings to show what a success I am!

I had my surgery on January 14, 2014 and I too was walking around the hospital about six hours after surgery and went home the next day. I have been able to get my Protein, fluids, and calories in since the fourth day after surgery. I am still on full liquids and get to graduate to purees on Tuesday and I am so ready. I am starting to feel hungry now. I have only lost 14 pounds since surgery but I am hoping that once I start exercising at six weeks this will come down even more. I track everything though including my Vitamins, lol Good Luck on your journey and consider yourself very lucky, I know I do:)

Yes! Support groups are important. Networking here is good stuff, too. We're all going thru the same thing and it's great to communicate with people that just like you. While my husband is really supportive, he doesn't understand my food issues and my want to lose weight faster than I am.
You're not alone. I am 12 weeks post op yesterday and I have such a different outlook today than I did at 4 weeks. I feel so much better - physically and mentally. I consider myself a slow loser, but I've come to terms with that. I'm at a lower weight today than I have been in 15 years. That amazes me.
This journey is chalk full of ups and downs - I truly wasn't prepared for the emotional stuff. I was all ready for the surgery and the physical aspects. I have had to address emotional issues with food that I have never addressed before. It's all good stuff, but it's hard.
You're going to do great - you're off to a great start. Just keep working your plan and everything will fall into place.

Thank you so much for your encouragement Mcbutterpants, I really needed that boost of encouragement. I will be attending my first support group meeting next week and I think the encouragement from others will also put me at ease. It helps or is encouraging to hear from others, thanks again.

Hi there.
I am no alarmed at anything you said - it seems like you're following your doc's plan. It's all good stuff. At week 4 I was at about 18 pounds, so not far from you.
A couple of suggestions for you -
1. Don't compare your weight loss with others - this is hard, I know. Your journey to 241 pounds is different than my journey to 256 pounds. We didn't get here the same way and we're going to lose it differently as well.
2. Take your measurements if you haven't already. I was surprised, really surprised, at the number of inches I lost. I lost inches when I wasn't losing weight according to the scale.
3. Look at your body - really look at it. See HOW you're losing weight. Take pictures of yourself. I can see I'm losing weight differently than before when I would diet. I attribute that to losing FAT.
4. Are you cleared to walk? I was cleared to walk immediately after surgery - nothing strenuous, but walking. I walked a lot.
5. Most importantly, be kind to yourself and your new tummy. We all want to lose faster and are expectations are high. Your body is going to lose weight at it's own pace. All you can control is what you put into your mouth - continue to follow your doctor's plan.
Best of luck to you - hang in there. You're body is going to catch up - I promise.

Thank you, hazeleyes...im sipping a lot but is like I don't know when is too much, or when im full, n I couldn't finish my Protein Shake this morning, im trying it again now.

Well! No bugging needed any more! I got a call this morning telling me I'm approved. Such a relief!!!!!!!!!
No Mexico for me!

I'm 6 days post op and I woke up hungry this morning. I had a Protein Shake and then a couple hours later some Tomato Soup I'm feeling satisfied!

Thank you Lainey3074. It gives comfort when people who have gone through this can relate and understand what we are describing in each step. Also it makes me feel like this is normal and I am not a strange case, lol. Day for day and minute for minute if that is what it takes.

I had my surgery January 14th also and I came home yesterday. I had to have a hiatial hernia repaired in addition to sleeve. I think I'm in shock also at how hard it is to get the required liquids in. I have to stay on a clear liquid diet for two weeks post op. So far my tummy makes lots of sounds and all I can drink are two sips at best. Also when it gets to my stomach there is a tight pressure pain feeling that comes and goes real quick. But it's taking everything I got to get fluids in. They say week 1 is the worst, right?

Thank you Lainey3074. It gives comfort when people who have gone through this can relate and understand what we are describing in each step. Also it makes me feel like this is normal and I am not a strange case, lol. Day for day and minute for minute if that is what it takes.

Congrats to you both. Week 1 is certainly the worst! I encourage you both to just take it easy, take your meds, get lots of rest and don't stress! You will improve. I am 1 month out and still don't get my liquids in and sometimes I don't get my Protein. Just do your best, knowing that it will get better.